Ye Lingling watched the conversation between Gu Xuan and her grandmother, her beautiful eyes shimmering. When she heard that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan now possessed five Titled Douluos, her face wore a look of utter shock.
She knew the Clan was powerful, but she hadn't realized they had reached such a height. Her Grandfather and Second Grandfather were only Soul Douluos, yet the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had five Titled Douluos. When the words "Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well" were mentioned, she was completely stunned. As someone born into a family of medical cultivators, it was impossible for her not to know of such a legendary treasure land.
'So, the reason Gu Xuan jumped twelve ranks in a single year is because of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well? It has to be. Aside from the Immortal Herbs provided by such a land, what other possibility is there?' She thought. 'None! Absolutely none!'
It was no wonder that "scoundrel" Gu Xuan looked down on the three treasures her grandmother brought. He literally had a "mine" now; he didn't care for their small scraps. While her mind was reeling, she couldn't help but think. 'If I really end up with Gu Xuan, even as a secondary wife, I'd probably get a lot of benefits, right?'
Unlike Lingling's stray thoughts, Ye Haitang was considering the proposal with extreme gravity.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well... one of the three legendary treasure basins in the world. To say she wasn't tempted would be a lie. No one understood its mystical nature better than she did. But what about after joining? Even if she could maintain her status as Gu Xuan claimed, there was already an alchemy master there. She couldn't just push them aside to take the top spot.
Ye Haitang was torn. She felt that even if she joined, she might only get the leftovers. But she quickly realized that if she didn't join, she wouldn't even get to smell the soup.
Seeing her waver, Gu Xuan continued, "Since Grandma Ye knows of the Well, you naturally understand its divinity. Currently, the herb garden is being managed by my teacher, but he is obsessed with alchemy and personal cultivation. If you join the Clan, the garden is actually in need of a dedicated caretaker."
He paused, looking at Ye Lingling. "Lingling told me the Nine-Hearted Begonia has a natural affinity for plants. I believe that if you were the one managing the garden, you could turn it into something truly magnificent."
Ye Haitang's eyes flickered. 'Me? Managing the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well? Is there really such a good deal?'
"What is the price?" she asked.
Gu Xuan smiled. "Grandma Ye, what are you saying? You'll be family by then. A treasure land like that only reaches its maximum potential in the hands of the most suitable person."
Ye Haitang felt conflicted. He was clearly trying to "eat" her family whole, but she was genuinely swayed. If she managed the Well, her family's herbs could be transplanted there, and as the manager, she would naturally get a significant share of the harvest. Financially and strategically, she wouldn't lose out—the only catch was that the Nine-Hearted Begonia would forever be tied to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
After a long silence, Ye Haitang nodded. "I want to investigate it first. If it is as you say, I agree to join the Clan."
Gu Xuan beamed. "Excellent. I'll have Poison Douluo take you there."
"The Poison Douluo?" Ye Haitang was startled.
"He is currently my father-in-law and part of the family. Actually, he was the one who discovered the Well in the first place!" Gu Xuan explained.
'Dugu Bo joined them? Doesn't that mean they have six Titled Douluos?'
Ye Haitang was shocked, but compared to the previous revelations, this was almost manageable. However, she was surprised by something else. 'This boy is already married? I was hoping Lingling could get close to him... If he already has a Douluo's granddaughter, wouldn't my granddaughter suffer? And Lingling and Yan Yan are best friends! If Lingling gets involved with Gu Xuan now, it'll be a total disaster!'
As she pondered, Gu Xuan stood up. "Grandma Ye, let's leave it at that for today. Please consider it carefully. Tomorrow, the Poison Douluo will be waiting for you in Jingde Town, outside the Sunset Forest."
He glanced at the three treasure boxes and shook his head. "You should keep these for now." Then he turned to Ye Lingling. "Lingling, coming back to the academy with me?"
Ye Lingling looked at her grandparents, who nodded. She followed Gu Xuan out of the Heaven Dou Grand Hotel.
Once the youngsters left, Zhang Jinyuan and Ye Haitang sat in silence. "Yuanyuan... Do you think I'm doing the right thing?" she asked, leaning against his chest. Her voice was weary, devoid of the poise she had shown Gu Xuan.
Zhang Jinyuan hugged her gently. "I suggested getting that orchid a long time ago. This is the chance. Their conditions aren't low, but wouldn't it be better to live boldly than to spend our lives in the mists of this curse? I don't want to see Lingling suffer like this, and I certainly don't want to see you... end your life as Xuguang did."
You Xuguang was the son of Ye Haitang and her other husband, Ye Lingling's father.
Ye Haitang burst into tears. Only those who have outlived their children can understand that pain. "I understand. We'll meet the Poison Douluo tomorrow."
Gu Xuan and Ye Lingling walked through the streets of Heaven Dou City. Seeing her skipping ahead, Gu Xuan asked, "Why so happy?"
She turned back with a beaming smile. "Thank you, Xiao Xuan. I won't tell anyone what you said today, but because of those words, Grandma will definitely agree. The temptation of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is ten times stronger than anything else!"
Then she looked at him with a mock-resentful pout. "But why didn't you tell me sooner? If you had, you wouldn't have had to 'secretly' like me—I would have chased you myself!"
Gu Xuan was stunned. 'Is this your true nature? You're even more forward than Dugu Yan!'
Ye Lingling giggled at his shocked expression. "Not used to me like this? I'm not used to it either, but thinking about the future makes me so happy I can't suppress it. All the emotions I've bottled up for years are just... exploding."
Gu Xuan understood. Like she said, when someone who has lived in despair suddenly sees hope, their personality can shift drastically.
He laughed and teased back, "I wanted to chase you, but you were always so cold. I didn't know where to start! If you had been like Yan Yan, I might have chased you first."
Ye Lingling arched an eyebrow. "Hey, let me ask you: Do you boys just love every girl you see and then stop cherishing them once you've 'got' them?"
Gu Xuan grabbed her hand and said tenderly, "I'm not a scoundrel, Lingling. I just want to give every girl I love a home."
(End of Chapter)
---
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.